CITY centre bar Walkabout was closed today following two stabbings following the Merseyside derby.

Merseyside police applied for the Australian-themed venue to be immediately shut after the incident on Monday, in which one man was slashed across the face and stomach and another stabbed in the buttocks.

Police said they were moved to act swiftly because of the number of violent incidents at the Concert Square bar over the last year.

There were 20 incidents of violence in 12 months, three involving knives or weapons.

Police said they were further minded to seek the closure of the venue because neither of the victims of the Monday night incident, a 24-year-old man from Toxteth and a 21-year-old from Bootle, were co-operating with police.

Sergeant Paul Douglas, of the force's licensing unit, said he feared the possibility of “revenge attacks”.

Management from Regent, told the committee they would install knife arches and ID scanners before they seeking to re-open.

They said they expected to lose 30% of their custom because people would not want their identities on file, but said they were committed with working with police to combat knife crime.